"Now, here we are," Smaug grinned like the cat that ate the cannery. "You are at my mercy once again." He let out a chuckle, "You're going to die."
"If this is the afterlife I've been had," Aza retorted. "I'm dead! What can you possibly want now?"
Unlike their last encounter, they were both naked. However, this didn't seem to bother Aza. She felt better than she had in the last few months. The only thing that marred her looks was the burn that covered half of her upper body.
"This is your last chance, green child," he smirked. His smile made his face look scarier. Dark curls covered his light green eyes. "Your light is fading, but my fire still remains."
"Fire? You're the one who has been interfering with my magic!" she accused.
Smaug ran forward, Aza almost didn't see the movement. "I am a part of you, the moment you searched through my magic; my soul became intertwined with yours. Now I can give you life again, but it will cost you."
Life. She could go back to Legolas. She could be married. She could live out her days in peace and happiness.
"What is the cost?"
"I get my body back, my power, and my gold."
She couldn't let that happen. "No. We're doing this on my terms." She grabbed his arm and pulled him to her. "You'll get a body! But you will have no power! And as for the gold, you'll never see even the color for as long as you live!"
The two beings screamed as their magic fought another.
"You foolish girl!"
"I will not be conquered by you!" she shouted. "You will not control me!"
Aza's eyes snapped open.
She was alive.
Against all odds she was alive.
She sat up. All her injuries were gone.
"Legolas?" she looked around. He wasn't there.
A figure emerged from the fog. It became more and more familiar as it got closer. The face, the high cheekbones and that scowl. The horrible pale green eyes she remembered as well. The black mop of curls on top.
In his hands he held her staff.
"My lady," he knelt before her, naked and angry.
Aza took the staff from him. "You…you're real."
The ex-dragon raised his head, "Yes."
"And a man."
He growled, "Yes, thanks to you."
Aza looked down at her staff and realized something. "You are not Smaug anymore."
Not-Smaug glared at her.
"You need a new name," she looked him dead in the eyes. "Your name is now, Cobryn."
"Yes, my lady."
Aza tried to stand on her own, but failed. Cobryn helped her up.
The sound of weeping reached her ears.
They followed it to se Tauriel weeping over Kili's body. The she-elf raised her head and gasped, "Aza!"
"Cobryn, release me," Aza ordered and she went to her knees next to Kili's body. She placed a hand on her friend's. "You loved him."
Tauriel nodded and gazed on Kili's face once more.
"You will fade without him," Aza said.
"Yes, such is the way of the elves."
"Tauriel, you have been banished from Mirkwood," Aza inquired.
The red-headed she-elf nodded.
"Then come with me," Aza said, "at least spend your days with someone who cares for you."
"You are the greatest of friends, Aza."
Together they rose from their spots, Tauriel supporting Aza as they walked.
"Who are you?" she asked Cobryn.
"Long story," Aza said. "First I must find Gandalf."
They made their way through the rubble to find Gandalf and Bilbo sitting on the steps smoking their pipes.
Gandalf did not seem at all surprised by her appearance. He gazed up and down at the naked man supporting Aza. "I see you have made a new friend."
The next day they left. Aza said her goodbyes to the dwarves and they set on their way back to the Shire. Tauriel and Cobryn rode with in the company, as well. Even death could not cure Aza of her dislike of horses as she was forced to ride with Cobryn.
Cobryn turned out to retain the same pride and arrogance that Smaug had. However, he didn't talk much, which was a plus. Instead he spent most of the trip glaring at Bilbo and referring to him only as "barrel rider", which disturbed Bilbo quite a bit.
They said their farewells to Bilbo at the edge of the Shire.
"Azriela, what do you intend to do with your dragon?" Gandalf asked.
Aza looked Cobryn up and down, "I don't suppose I should teach him manners first? He certainly is lacking those."
Tauriel chuckled at the look on Cobryn's face.